Padres Split First Two of Four With Astros

After being shut out 2-0 to the Houston Astros on Monday, squandering several scoring opportunities, the Padres pounded out 13 hits Tuesday evening in route to a 8-2 victory over Houston. The Padres were 5 for 9 with runners in scoring position, which was quite a reversal from Monday's form.

Padre starting pitcher Ross Ohlendorf didn't help himself early. In the top of the second inning with one out, Jordan Schafer reached on a bunt single, and took second on an errant pick-off attempt to first base by Ohlendorf. Schafer then stole third base and came home on a ground ball out by Carlos Corporan, and the Astros led 1-0.

The Padres came back and took the lead in the bottom of the frame. With one out, Yasmani Grandal singled to left field and Yonder Alonso belted a Jordan Lyles fastball to left for his first home run at Petco Park and his fourth of the season. After two innings, the Padres took a 2-1 lead.

Houston got even in the top of the third inning, when with one out, Marwin Gonzalez reached on a bunt single. After Scott Moore flied out, Gonzalez stole second base, and then J.D. Martinez singled to left field and Gonzalez scored to make it 2-2.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Padres took the lead for good. With one out, Logan Forsythe singled and Chase Headley followed with a double to left field, scoring Forsythe. Mark Kotsay then singled to left, Headley going to third base. Yasmani Grandal came through with a single to center field, plating Headley, and the Padres led 4-2 after five innings.

San Diego tacked on a run in the sixth inning when Cameron Maybin opened the bottom of the frame with a single, and Jesus Guzman's ground ball out moved Maybin the second base. Alexi Amarista then drove in Maybin with a single to left, making it 5-2.

Fernando Abad replaced Astros starter Jordan Lyles in the seventh inning, and Abad hit Chase Headley with a pitch. Two outs later, Yonder Alonso doubled home Headley. Will Venable then walked, and Cameron Maybin then hit what wound up being a ground-rule double because of fan interference, but Alonso and Headley were able to score and the Padres led 8-2, and that was all of the scoring.

Padres pitching didn't give the Astros many opportunities. Ohlendorf went six innings and gave up two runs (one earned), on six hits, walking only one batter while striking out six. Brad Brach, Joe Thatcher, and Luke Gregerson each pitched a perfect inning in relief.

Alexi Amarista continues to hit his way into the starting line-up, going 3 for 5; Cameron Maybin, who had a forgettable first half with the bat, has improved recently and went 3 for 4 Tuesday with the double and 2 runs batted in. Yonder Alonso was 2 for 3 with the home run and the double with 3 runs batted in.

Notes:

Padres pitcher Joe Wieland has decided to have surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, which will occur at the end of July. The ligament was damaged while Wieland was rehabbing in Peoria, Arizona, at the Padres training facility there. Micah Owings has also opted for surgery on his elbow after pain increased instead of subsiding. Owings was rehabbing a strained forearm when the elbow injury, which had been nagging him, continued to be a problem. The surgeries will end the seasons of both players.

Wednesday, the Padres again take on the Astros, the game is in progress. The pitching match-up is Clayton Richard (6-10, 3.83) going for the Padres, with the Astros offering Wandy Rodriguez (7-7, 3.51). Fox Sports San Diego has the visual and XX 1090 AM provides the audio. As always, your San Diego Reader website provides the verbiage.